bottom of the tub, swimming in the steamy water that pooled there.
Mercifully, Tiaan thrust one long finger inside her aching core to press on the extremely sensitive bundle of nerves. She came apart, her cries swallowed by his mouth, slanting hungrily on hers. A moment of stillness from him coupled with the sticky warmth dripping down the backs of her thighs told her he’d enjoyed himself as well.
He released his hold on her and she turned to embrace him, but Tiaan was suddenly gone. Vanished like a thief, a pirate who had taken his spoils, slipping silently away. Again.
Feeling used and unable to swallow down the hurt fisting at her throat, Chelsea finished in the shower and wrapped herself in her towel. She sunk to the bathmat on the floor, dripping wet strands of her hair sticking to her skin. One minute, Tiaan made her feel special. Saying the most wonderful things. The next, she felt worthless again.
Time to erect that barrier around her heart once more. Tortured or not, Christiaan Carstens had to learn that he couldn’t simply use her whenever he so desired. She had to think of herself, her sanity, her health.
And that of her son.
As long as Tiaan stayed in this house, Chelsea couldn’t be here. The Dunlop’s would have to understand.
Then she recalled a conversation with Mrs. Fournier, Hannah’s friend. The older woman’s daughter had moved out months ago with her fiancé, and she mentioned a spare room, saying if Chelsea ever needed a place to stay she should look no further.
Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? It was perfect!
The shrill cry of a hungry baby demanded her attention. Chelsea quickly dried off, slipped into her robe, and went back into the bedroom. Having a plan in mind made her feel so much better, even if the thought of never seeing Tiaan again pained her more than she was ready to admit.
It was for the best.
~~~
This kind of mission always bored him. The watching, hanging around and waiting. As a man of action, he preferred to be in action, as opposed to sitting in an unmarked vehicle on a quiet residential street, a pair of binoculars and a bunch of ration packs as his only companions.
His muscles were stiff. Felt like they were going into atrophy from disuse, even though it had only been a few days. He massaged his thighs and calves, promising himself some exercise soon. He just needed one thing, some good intel to offer the man with the money.
Motion at the house of interest demanded his attention. He glanced through the lenses to see a sexy little thing rushing from the front door towards a rust-bucket. She had a baby with her.
He took a second look at the photograph he’d memorised since the day he was assigned to this job and his eyes widened. Back through the binoculars, he got the perfect view of the baby before she tucked him – car seat and all – into the back seat.
“Well, I’ll be,” he murmured, noting the luscious curves of her backside. Didn’t look half bad for just having had a kid.
Not just any kid though.
Without tearing his eyes from her wiggling form, he brought his cell to his ear and dialled the man who hired him. “You’ll like this newest bit of info I’ve gathered.”
“Go ahead,” the other man barked.
“Carstens is a daddy.”
A spluttering cough erupted through the line. “He has a child? You’re certain?”
“Little bundle of joy is the spitting image if his father. How do you want me to proceed?”
“Not over the phone. Three days from now, I’ll send someone to meet you with instructions. In the meantime, get some proof. I need physical evidence, understood?”
“Mm-hmm.” Damn, the little honey had a fine body on her. Great tits, too. What did breast milk taste like? He’d never wondered before now, but he’d sure as hell love to try some from her jugs.
“Keep on them. Oh, what about the child’s mother? Is she in the picture?”
“Looking at her right now.” She bent over to lift a suitcase into the